WEST SACRAMENTO — The Houston Astros received good news on the injury front Saturday, but it comes with a complication.
Reliever Enyel De Los Santos made back-to-back outings for Double-A Corpus Christi this week as he continues his buildup from a right knee strain, and manager Joe Espada said Saturday that De Los Santos is “close” to being ready to return. The problem: finding a spot for him.
De Los Santos cannot be optioned to the minors, which means the Astros will need to make a roster move to activate him. Their only optionable relievers are Bryan King, AJ Blubaugh, Kai-Wei Teng, and Ryan Weiss, all of whom entered Saturday with ERAs of 2.70 or lower. Roddery Muñoz and Cody Bolton have no options remaining, and Muñoz, as a Rule 5 draft pick, would need to be placed on waivers and offered back to the Reds if removed from the active roster. Muñoz has allowed seven runs in his first three appearances this season.
The situation grows more complicated in less than two weeks. The Astros plan to deploy a six-man rotation beginning April 10, when a stretch of 13 consecutive games without an off-day begins. That would require carrying one fewer reliever, making roster construction even more delicate.
The leading candidate to join the rotation is Spencer Arrighetti, who struck out nine batters in his most recent start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday. Arrighetti began the season in the minors to stay on a regular schedule and build his pitch count, with Houston always intending to bring him up when the six-man rotation begins.
Meanwhile, closer Josh Hader, sidelined since the start of the season with left biceps tendinitis, has been throwing bullpens in Houston while the team travels.
“For me, I’m just going in rehabbing,” Hader said at a recent charity event. “I’m trying to better my craft. I have a few bullpens this week, which is exciting for me. To be able to get my reps in and to be able to get strong as much as I can to be back as soon as possible.”
The bullpen has held up in the early going. Teng and Steven Okert combined for 3⅓ perfect innings of relief in Saturday’s 11-0 rout of the Athletics. Bryan Abreu has handled closing duties, with King and Bolton each picking up a save.
The Astros entered Sunday at 6-3, first in the AL West.
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